For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Parallel translations
- WEB For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
- BSB For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope
- NKJV For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
- NASB For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
- NLT Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Creation was subjected to futility by God, yet not without hope. The curse on creation was purposeful and aimed toward a hopeful end.
Overview
Paul recalls that creation was made subject to frustration, a reference to the curse following the fall. This subjection came by God's own ordaining, 'because of him who subjected it,' yet it was joined to hope. Creation's bondage is therefore not meaningless but oriented toward future deliverance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Gen 3:17–19And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
- Gen 5:29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
- Rom 8:22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
- Jer 12:4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
- Isa 24:5–6The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
- Jer 14:5–6Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
- Hos 4:3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
- Eccl 1:2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- Gen 6:13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
- Job 12:6–10The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
- Joel 1:18How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
- Jer 12:11They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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